Most people think of themselves as good drivers. In fact, if you were to ask most drivers about how they drive compared to other drivers on the road, they would likely say that they are much better, safer and more considerate when they’re behind the wheel. Some of the most dangerous driving habits, however, are things that even good drivers engage in and that they may not be aware are putting them and other people in danger.
Breaking too Late
Sometimes, people don’t realize that they break far too late when they make a turn off of a street. In order to properly executed turn off of a busy street, you have to make certain that the drivers behind you have adequate time to slow down or stop, depending on how quickly you are making the turn.
Look in your rearview mirror before you make a turn off of the busy street. One of the easiest ways to get rear-ended is to turn on your blinker and make a turn within a second or less. Your blinker should be going for at least two seconds before you actually start to make a turn.
Driving too Slowly
You should always drive the speed limit. In reality, not driving the speed limit is a criminal infraction. However, realize that many people do not drive at the speed limit and may speed excessively. Going slow in the fast lane is dangerous. If you find yourself on a multilane road where people are speeding, be sure you stick to one of the slower lanes. Even if there is quite a bit of spacing between the cars in the fast lane, realize that they are going to come up behind you very quickly and that you may end up causing a lot of road rage and setting yourself up for an accident. You could very well get rear-ended.
Headlights Off
Keeping your headlights off all the time is a dangerous habit. Even during the day, your headlights provide a great visual indicator for people checking the roadway to make sure it’s clear before they pullout of an intersection or a driveway. If you’re worried about lessening the life of your headlights, consider upgrading to an LED headlight. These are incredibly long-lasting, even if you leave them on whenever you’re driving.
If you read the news, you’ll see the same types of accidents over and over again. Paying attention to how these accidents happen can reveal potential weaknesses in your driving habits.
